My wife has a 2002 PETROL Mk2 Fiat Punto 1.2 Active and it's displaying some very odd dashboard warning light behaviour, which is more than likely due to a mystery rainwater leak on the driver's side.
Early this January, I had to charge the battery as lack of use over the winter had flattened it, and shortly after that, the warning lights started playing up; when the engine's running, the power steering and diesel glow plug (!) lights stay on, but are 'dimmed' at about 50% of full intensity. This was happening at the time of the MOT test in January, but as the steering function wasn't affected in any way, the car passed the test with no advisories in that area. When the key is removed, these lights stay on in their 'dimmed' state for an average of 30 seconds. The really odd thing is that pressing the clock adjust button makes these lights flash on and off (still 'dimmed') in time with the button pressing action! The battery was charged disconnected (but still in situ), and has held its charge fine ever since, so I can hopefully rule out alternator issues.
Recently (and regularly) after rainfall, a small amount of water collects on the driver's mat, pedal tops and most worryingly, part of a concealed wiring loom that can be reached by hand, to the right of the steering wheel. The car did have a rainwater leak last year and I read about water that had collected in the scuttle flowing outside the two plastic drain tubes, and this was addressed by using clear silicone sealant so rainwater can only flow via the inside faces of the tubes and down to the ground. I regularly check these tubes for blockages and all is well.
The car is getting on, but has only done 60k from new, runs really well and my wife would like to keep it going for a while longer if possible - but I'm aware that rainwater can be death to a car - especially if it gets on the wiring, or worse, the ECU!
Any suggestions?
Early this January, I had to charge the battery as lack of use over the winter had flattened it, and shortly after that, the warning lights started playing up; when the engine's running, the power steering and diesel glow plug (!) lights stay on, but are 'dimmed' at about 50% of full intensity. This was happening at the time of the MOT test in January, but as the steering function wasn't affected in any way, the car passed the test with no advisories in that area. When the key is removed, these lights stay on in their 'dimmed' state for an average of 30 seconds. The really odd thing is that pressing the clock adjust button makes these lights flash on and off (still 'dimmed') in time with the button pressing action! The battery was charged disconnected (but still in situ), and has held its charge fine ever since, so I can hopefully rule out alternator issues.
Recently (and regularly) after rainfall, a small amount of water collects on the driver's mat, pedal tops and most worryingly, part of a concealed wiring loom that can be reached by hand, to the right of the steering wheel. The car did have a rainwater leak last year and I read about water that had collected in the scuttle flowing outside the two plastic drain tubes, and this was addressed by using clear silicone sealant so rainwater can only flow via the inside faces of the tubes and down to the ground. I regularly check these tubes for blockages and all is well.
The car is getting on, but has only done 60k from new, runs really well and my wife would like to keep it going for a while longer if possible - but I'm aware that rainwater can be death to a car - especially if it gets on the wiring, or worse, the ECU!
Any suggestions?
Last edited:
